CNT columnist moves to Ottawa

Catholic New Times, Sept 12, 2004

COBALT, ONT. -- Longtime CNT columnist Charlie Angus has traded his lumberjack shirt for a white shirt and tie and now sits in Canada's parliament representing Timmins-James Bay. The award-winning columnist first profiled by CNT editor Ted Schmidt in November 1989 as a member of the Grievous Angels folk rock group, has had a fascinating journey on his road to Ottawa. Moving to Toronto from Timmins with his family in the mid 1970s, Angus joined friend Andrew Cash (of the Cash Brothers) to create L'Etranger, a punk rock band that made its debut in 1979.

In the mid 1980s he married Edmonton-born Brit Griffin and they started a Catholic Worker house in Toronto's east end. "Angelus House" became a house of hospitality based on the Dorothy Day model of the Catholic Worker. Griffin and Angus then put out their paper, The Angelus, and distributed it all over Toronto. Charlie supplemented his income by working as a carpenter and gigging with the Grievous Angels.

In his 1989 interview with CNT, Angus stressed that "he was trying hard not to be successful. I'm a father and a Catholic worker. Music is basically linked to capitalism and when it is finished it will spit you out and your family will be gone."

The birth of daughter Mariah forced them to re-evaluate things and they headed back to the north in 1990 where they've been ever since producing a magazine for the North called Higrader. Well known in the north for his passionate defence of the region and its people (He was heavily involved in keeping Toronto's garbage out of the Adams Mine), Angus has often appeared on CBC radio, TVO other media outlets. He continued to create music celebrating small town Canada and the struggle of working people. In the fall Novalis will release his latest book, The Life and Times of Father Les Costello.

Charlie Angus has been married for 18 years to his wife Brit Griffin. They have three daughters: Mariah 16, Siobhan 14 and Lola 6.

Fellow NDPer Tony Martin (Sault Ste Marie) chuckled in an interview with CNT. "Charlie missed our first caucus meeting. I told everybody, hold onto your hats, this guy will blow your minds."